Handle, cord reel, and switch assembly



1H4 5 a 4 a $amp4 a 2/) 2 Z W i K a 4 mr M V m1 F Q w W Oct. 24, 1950 R. c. OSBORN HANDLE, CORD REEL, AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 16, 1946 Patented Oct. 24, 1 950 UNITED STATES P NT. orties:;,;

' HANDLE, CORD IREELQ'ANDVSWITCH f ASSEMBLY a I Ralph C. Osborn, BloomingtonfIll}, assignor to 4 Eureka Williams Corporation, a corporati 9f Michigan Application January 16, 194 6,S eria l Not This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and haslparticular reference to a new and improved construction and arrangement of a handle therefor embodying an automatic cord reel and switch.

The long current conducting cord attached to vacuum cleaners has always presented a problem in-connection with the use of the machine. Many suggestions, including the use-of automatic cord reels,'have heretofore been made, but a serious objection to such arrangements has been that the tends'along the axis of the handle and is housed by the tube which defines the handle.

Principal objects of the invention, therefore, are-to provide:

A suction cleaner embodyingnew and more etficient arrangements for handling the cord thereof; l

A handle and cord reeland switch assembly; A new and improved cord reel for use in connection with the vacuum cleaner or similar ma chine.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there is one sheet, which, by way of illustration, show a pre-* ferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I" have contemplated applying those princ ples.

Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and'structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

tain ones thereof may be advantageously employed in some applications separate and apart from the remainder of the features.

I also contemplate that of the several different features of my invention, oer- 9 Claims. (01. w g-122w 'Fig. a sectional view taken along the line- 5-5 ofjFig. 2.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner "embodying the invention;

I Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view As shown inFig. 1,"a cleane r embo'dying the invention comprises a casing i ll having a pivoted handle l2. The casing I0 comprises an electric motor driven'suction cleaner, including an electric motor," a" fan driven therebyv and a rotary brushalso'drivenby the motor, asis well under- I stoodin the'art. Thehandle l2 includes a socket member l4 pivotally'attachedto the casing l0, ai

stem jl'fi anda hand grip l8. Theste n I6 is provided by a tubular member, such as a piece of tubing, one end of which 'is seated and secured in a socket provided. by the socket member I43. The hand grip l8 is secured in the other end of theitube l6. A plug 20 is'rigidly secured in one. endof thetube I6. Q

Contajct pins 22 and24 are resiliently mounted in theplug 12 0.. Each of the pins22 and 24 is", slidable in a hole in the plug 20 and is mou ted; on the free end of a sprin member 26wh1ch forms part of'a current conducting path between a.,pin and thegend. 28 or a current conductinglejadf to ithe motor; Each of the leads. 28] is secured in a rivet 3llwhich clampsfone end of the spring member 26 in position'on the plug 20. 'Ih'eplugf 20 and the pin'sjz and 24 thus Provide a ter 38f and 4.6 secured. thereto. The slip ring Min-"1 cludes a cylindricalportion which is journaled in,a'bore 42' in the plug '20, thereby to provide a rotarysupport for-one .endof the roller .32. The, other end, of the, roller includes a plug 44 having a shaft extension 45, which is rotatably mounted in a bore 48 in the hand grip, l 8 so as to provide a rotary mounting; for the upper .end of theroller. 32... Thus the roller 32 is mounted for rotary movement'about an axis which is parallelto or coaxial with the. longitudinal axis of the handle l2. A torsion spring 50 arranged in annular grooves inthe plug and the hand grip 18 has one end52anchored tothe plug. 44. and the other end 54 anchored in a'boreihthe hand grip I 8.

' and biases theroller 32 to a position which may bedesignatedasits wound position, that is,,one inwhich the roller 32 has thelcord 34 fully wound thereon, although it is possible that the cord 34: may beof'jsuchlength that a portion thereof will notubelwound 011.15118- '1'Ql161132 b11'b I have found gages the slip ring 38. The end 60 of the cur-- rent conducting cord 34 extends through a pasone or" sage formed interiorly of the roller 32: the current conductors of the cord 34 is electri-- cally connected to the slip ring 38 while the other; is electrically connected to: the: slip; ring 40.1..

When the pins 22 and '24 are in engagement with the slip rings 38 and 40, the circuit to .the .motor of the cleaner is closed. The" roller 32; in a'ddi tion to being rotatably mounted, mounted for axial movement so as to permit the, slip; rings .3Biandm40- to move out-soft engagement with the contact'pins 22 and 241 confinedbetweenitheiplug 2D and-.- the end'iof'the p1ug 36- biases the roller 32 away from the A. lever 64.pivoted 611a pinifitiarrangedrin the is slidablyi scription is for the purpose of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes 1 tary movement about an axis extending lengthin the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the at tached claims.

I claim: V a v Y 1. In a device of the class'descri-bed an electric motor driven machine having a hollow handle attached thereto, a cord reel arranged in said handle and including a roller extending lengthwi'se:of said handle and mounted therein for rowise of;said' handle; a current conducting cord woundzion.saidcroller:and having one end thereof attached thereto, means biasing said roller to rotateinwa directionlto-,,wind said cord on said roller, said handle having an opening therein, the other endof saidfcord extending through said opening,

A spring; 62 e handle; I 8 has a cam surface 68Zarrangedi toien-v gage; the endfflfl ofithe. shaftlextension 4611 so. as.

tolh'olid the.roller 321 imposition where. the slip,

rings-T38: and @401. thereof .willlbe. in, engagement with the pinszzsndzm- However, byshifting the lever. 64,..portibns 58. thereof "may be ,moved out of, engagement .with .the send; 'llliof 'ltheishaft 'extension fifi whichiwilll permit the spring; 62'Zto shift;-

7 the roller. 32, axially sodas to separate the .slipv rings38 amino. from the. contactpi'ns 22'and. 274 I The lever 64 thus comprises a switchlactuatingj memberwhich may beshifted between two -posi-' tions-so as to close orao-pentthe switchprovided byuthefcontactipins 22 and.. 24 andl the'sli'p rings.

' 38-jand"40. r

1 The other. .end L12 aof jfthe, currents conducting .t

cord .34 extends through aslot416jwhich is provided in the tube. l6 oppositelthe roller 32 andparallel therewith; Aiguide T8'is arranged in the slotTG sdas to be slidablealong the length there of. The end 12 of thecord'extends through an:

openingin .the'guide .18. As the cordi3d is.un-

wound fromv the roller or reel 32; the guide 18 lwilll. move upwardly in. the slot-1B: andas thecordjld is wound upon the reel the guide 18 will move downwardly in its slot. The cord34 .as it is.un-'

wound and wound causes ,theguideflfi'to' slidein itsfslot. To unwindsthecord, it"is only necessary to pull the endto which the plug is attached out;

wardly from the handle. Pullingjon the cord; will cause the cord to unwind from the..'roller'32'. When the tnsioniszrelaxedj a'lever l9 ha's'one" endgfldthereof arranged ,to .pinchmor bind the cordjin'the guideJtiso that 'iticannot recede into the ,handlefunder .the action of'the roller 3'2andl thespring 50.. The lever 19 is;pivoted at 82f'on a" bracket carried by and. movable with" the guide, 78 and a spring is'arranged'to positionthe end 80.0f'the lever so.as to g rip the cord 34.. Towind causes the roller .32 to rotate and'thereby; wind the cordwithin the handle.

Theswitchis constructed and "arranged so that; it"may'be openedfor'closed in any position'of'theroller; as well'as during the winding orunwind ing ofthe -'cord*3 l.

While the invention lias been dscribedwith" some detail; it. is to' be understood"tliat the de electrical switch contacts associated with said roller 1 andqsaid' handle .for transmitting? thezflo-w of current through-saidcord-tocthe motortof-saidri machine, and :me'ansfon movingqsaid: roller axial-,1?

' lyiwith respect toi-said handle foropeningand:

closing said'contactsg: H 1 V H n 2. Ina handle for an electric-motor;driven ma w chine, a mountingmember attached tosuchwma chine, a: tubular member se'cured at one endfthere of to said mountingpmember; a-"hand grip ass'o T ciat'ed: with theother end" of 1 said? tubularmeme. her, a: roller arranged. in-=-saidi;tubular member: and: extending between said mounting member; and: hand grip, said roller: being;mo-unted% for ro-- tation about anaxis extending lengthwise: of said:

I tubular membena current .c'onductin cordwhas/ ing; one end attached tovsaid roller:- an-:wound? thereon-.inthe space between: said rollerc'and handle,v said tubular member having-anppeningg therein, the other-end1 f said-cord extending? throughsaid opening, electrical. switch contacts associated with said roller and saidhandle-afor: transmittingthe flow oi -current throughsaidecord to; the motorrof said machine; and means for; moving said roller axially with respect to said' handle-for openingrendrclosingyzsaidcontacts. i

3: In :a handle for an-ielectric motordrivenmachine a-:tubularmember forming the stem of-sa-id; handle, a roller rotatably and slidably mounted-1 in said: handle about :an-- axisr extending lengthwise ofasaidhandley acurrent conducting,-cord--:

wound on-said-roller 'and an electric switch -ar=- ranged for controlling the flow'ofi-currentthrough-i said 'cord to the-motor of said lmachinaimea-ns fOIf, moving said roller axiall withw respect to said:

handle, said switch being-mountedon saidhandle:

and"; arranged to be opened' and; closed bysaid"; axial movement ofsaid-rollen- I 4.: In a handle for-anelectric motor driven machine a' tubular. member-forming the-stem zof-l-said handle, a roller rotatablyandshiftablwmountedz in said handle about. an-axis-extending glengthwisee of said handle;;a-current conductingcord wound on said roller and an 'electric' switch -arranged for: controlling the flow-of current through said-corde to the motonof'saidmachineg resilient[means-for: shifting said roller-:axially:w'ith -zrespectto; said; handle, said switch being mounted ionsa-i'dhandle and arranged to be opened by-saids-hifti-ng movement of said roller, and a 'leveron said' handle? operable" for shifting said" roller "againstvsaid resilient 'means to actuatesaidswitcli, 55 In a device of "the classdescribedgari electric motor-driven machine having. a h'oll'ow handl'e pivotally attached theretd and: adapted to .pifoject upwardly therefrom forzmoving's'aid machine? wwsma-u.

extending lengthwise of said handle, a current conducting cord adantsd to be wound upon said roller and having one end therec: attached to said roller and projecting therefrom adfaeent the top of said roller wherehy said cord will be wound upon said roller from the-upper extremity thereof downwardly. a coil spring for driving said roller roller and said handle for transmitting an electric current to said motor-driven machine through the mounting for said roller, resilient means asss: ieted with said roller tending to move said rollor with respect to said handle for breaking the electrical circuit through said last means, and cam means projecting from said handle for opposing the movement of said roller by said resilient means for closing said circuit.

8. In a devim of the class described, an electric motor- Even machine having a hollow handle pivotally attached thereto and adapted to project for winding said cord thereon, said spring being disposed at one end of said roller with the convolutions thereof extending along the axis of said roller, means associated with said roller and said handle for transmitting an electric current to said motor-driven machine through the mounting for said roller, resilient means associated with said roller tending to more said roller axially with respect to said handle for breaking the electrical circuit through sad lost means, and cam means projecting from said handle for opposing the movement of said roller by said resilient means for closing said circuit.

6. In a device of the class describci'au electric motor-driven machine having a. hollow handle pivotally attached thereto and adapted to proicct upwardly therefrom for moving said machine about a door. a. cord reel arranged within said hollow handle and including a. roller extending lengthwise of said handle, said roll'r being mounted on bearings disp sed at opposite ends thereof in said handle for rotary movement about amaxis extending lengthwise of said handle, a current conducting cord adapted to be wound upon said roller and having one end thereof attached to said roller and projecting therefrom adjacent the top of said roller whereby said cord. will be wound upon said roller from the upper extremity thereof downwar a. coil springfor driving said roller for winding said cord thereon. means associated with said roller and said handle for transmitting an electric curruent to said motor-driven machine through the moimting for said roller, resilient means associated with said roller tending to move said roller axially with respect to said handle for breaking the electriml circuit through said last means, and cam means projecting from said handle for opposing the movement of said roller by smd resilient means for closing said circuit.

I. In a device of the class described. an electric motor-driven machine having a hollow handle pivotally attached thereto and adapted to proect upwardly therefrom for moving said machine about a floor, a. cord reel arranged within said hollow handle and including a roller extending lengthwise of said handle. said roller being mounted on bearings disposed at opposite ends thereof in said handle for rotary movement about an axis extending lengthwise of said handle, 1;. current conducting cord adopted to be wound upon said roller and having one end thereof attached to said roller and projecting therefrom adjacent 65 thetopofsaidmllerwherebysddoordwfllbe wounduponsaidrollerfromtheuppcrextremity thereof downwardly. means associatedwlthsald upwardly tl'zemfrom for moving said machine about a floor, a. cord reel arranged within said hollow handle and including a roller extending lengthwise of said handle, said roller being mounted on diszrwed at opposite ends thereof in said handle for rotary movement about an axis extending lengthwise of said handle, a current conducting cord adapted to be wound upon said roller and having one end thereof attached to said roller, means associated with said roller and said handle for transmitting an electric current to said motor driven machine through the mounting for. said roller, resilient means associated with said rol er tending to move said roller axially with respect to said handle for breaking said electrical drcuit through said last means, and cam means projecting from said handle for opposing the movement of said roller by said. resilient means for closing said circuit.

9. In a device of the class described, an electrlc motor-driven machine having a. handle pivotal y attached thereto and adapted to project upwardly therefrom for moving said machine about a ftcor, a cord reel emaciated with said handle and including a roller extending lengthwise of said handle. said roller being mounted in said ham'le for rotary movement about an axis cx-- tending lengthwise of said handle, a. current con ducting cord adapted to be wound upon said roller and having one end thereof attached to said roller and projecting therefrom adjacent the top of said roller whereby said cord will be wound upon said roller from the upper extremity thereof downwardly, means associated-with said roller and said handle for transmitting an electric current to said motor-driven machine through the mounting for said roller, and means for moving said roller axially for breaking the electrical circuit through said last means.

" RALPH C. OSBORN.

REFERENCES crrsn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS 

